Football shoulder pads



April 30, 1963 J. w. KELLY 3,087,163

FOOTBALL SHOULDER PADS Filed March 1, 1961 0T TORA/EYS.

3,087,163 FOOTBALL SHOULDER PADS Joseph W. Kelly, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Brunswick- MacGregor Inc., a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 92,618 4 Claims. (Cl. 2-2) This invention relates to athletic equipment and is particularly directed to an improved shoulder pad for protecting the shoulders, upper chest and neck areas of a football player.

A conventional pair of shoulder pads comprises two body members of generally inverted U-shape. These body members are adapted to overlie and protect the shoulder areas, and the upper back and chest areas of a football player. The two body members are joined together at the front and rear by means of suitable lacing or the like.

Additionally, conventional shoulder pads include a pair of hinged shoulder caps which extend outwardly at either side of the body sections. Two additional flaps are usually provided to protect a players collarbone. These flaps are also hingedly secured to the body members and overlie the junctures of the body members and shoulder caps. In a conventional shoulder pad, the pad is held on the player by means of two underarm straps. Each of these straps is attached to the front and rear portions of one body member and extends horizontally around the players body directly under his armpits.

In recent years it has been proposed to increase the amount of protection afforded football players by extending the shoulder pads downwardly at the front and rear portions so that they cover a greater area of the chest and back. However, even these enlarged pads frequently fail to provide a maximum amount of protection. One principal reason for this is that the straps used to support the prior art pads have not been effective to hold the pads in their proper position, seated on the players shoulders. More particularly, conventional shoulder pads tend to be lifted off the players shoulders out of engagement with his body when the player either raises his arms as in throwing or catching a pass, for example, or even when a player shifts his arms forward to a horizontal blocking position.

The strap arrangements of the prior art are also sub ject to several other serious disadvantages. Among these is the fact that the prior art straps are in many cases exceedingly uncomfortable. One reason for this is that the straps tend to catch directly under a players armpits where the straps rub and irritate the skin, particularly when a player shifts his arms in the manner explained above. An additional source of discomfort due to these straps is their tendency to roll or curl instead of remaining fiat against a players body.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel strap support for football shoulder pads which is effective to hold the pads firmly seated against the players shoulders in a position where they offer maximum protection to the wearer.

A second important object of this invention is to provide a strap construction for football shoulder pads which is substantially more comfortable to the wearer.

More particularly, the present invention is predicated upon the concept of providing a shoulder pad having diagonal, crossed body straps which engage the lower shoulder areas of the player and remain free of contact with his armpit area at all times.

A preferred form of shoulder pad embodying the principles of the present invention includes the two body members, hinged shoulder caps and pivoted collarbone protecting flaps described above. In addition to these conventional elements, the shoulder pads comprise two body 3,987,163 Patented Apr. 30, 1963 straps formed of webbing, or the like. These body straps are respectively connected to the forward portions of each of the body members. The straps extend rearwardly and are crossed adjacent to the rear portion of the pad. Each strap is attached to the back portion of the opposite body member. Thus, the strap which is attached to the front portion of the right-hand body member is secured to the rear portion of the left-hand body member and vice versa. A slide member engages each of the straps at their cross-over area. This slide member includes two slots for receiving each strap, the slots for receiving one strap being disposed at right angles to the slots for receiving the other strap.

When the present shoulder pads are in position on a player, the straps extend outwardly from the front portions of the body member and extend around the lower portion of a players chest well below his armpits. Each of the straps then passes diagonally across a players back beneath his shoulder muscles. Finally, each of the straps passes through the slide member and is attached to the opposite body member of the pad.

One of the principal advantages of the present shoulder pad is that the straps are effective to hold the pad in its seated position on the players shoulder at all times even though the player is raising his arms to pass, catch or block. Thus, the present pad materially increases the protection afforded to the player by the pads. More'- over, since shifting of the pads is substantially eliminated, the players arms are freer to move and the player has more the feeling of a form fitting garment, such as a sweat shirt, than that of a separate article bouncing around on his shoulders and impeding his movements.

The stability of the present pads, or their tendency to remain seated, is due in a large part to the fact that the straps pass downwardly from the rear portions of the pads and are in effect trapped beneath the players shoulder muscles.

Another factor contributing to this stability is the fact that each strap is effective to simultaneously apply a diagonal force, including a. downwardly directed component, to both halves of the shoulder pads. This helps to keep both pads seated in place on the players shoulders.

Another extremely important advantage of the present shoulder pads is that they are very comfortable to wear. The present strap arrangement is effective to keep the straps entirely free from contact with the players armpits. Consequently, the uncomfortable rubbing and abrasion in this area, which is inherent in the use of conventional pads and straps, is eliminated.

The present straps also are more comfortable because they eliminate any tendency of the straps to roll, i.e., to curl over. In contrast, the present straps tend to stay flat against the players body and hence do not form any uncomfortable bulges or the like.

A still further advantage of the present shoulder pads is that they provide a better conforming fit for a player and accordingly are more comfortable to wear. Specifically, the cross strap construction is effective to pull the front and rear portions of the pads together to cause them to conform more closely to the contour of the players body. Also, the strap tension is laregly self-adjusting due to the use of the slidable cross-over member which automatically assumes a natural position best suited to the particular player.

A still further advantage of the present shoulder pads is that the straps inherently tend to keep the two body members closed, i.e., to prevent horizontal separation of these members at the front and rear laces. When using prior art pads, a player laced the pads to bring the two body members together. However, in the strenuous action of a football game these lacesfrequently slipped or gave so that the two halves of the shoulder pads tended to become separated. This in turn led to relative movement of the halves of the shoulder pads and tended both to lessen the effectiveness of the pad and to increase the interference which it caused to a players movement. This difliculty is largely eliminated in the present pads because each of the straps passes diagonally and thus tends to pull the two halves of the pad together.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from a further consideration of the following detailed description of the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a complete shoulder pads assembly representing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of a pair of shoulder pads of the present invention showing the manner in which the pads are worn by a player.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged rear view of a preferred form of slidable strap engaging member.

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

One preferred form of shoulder pads constructed in accordance with the present invention is best shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. As is there shown, the shoulder pads are generally conventional except for the construction, positioning and manner of functioning of the body engaging straps 11 and 12 and slide member 13. However, in order to give a complete understanding to the function of these straps a brief description of the shoulder pads construction will be given.

Essentially, shoulder pads '10 comprises two body members 14 and 15. These members are preferably formed of a laminated material having a contoured rigid center sheet covered on each side with a sponge-type plastic material, the entire unit being coated with an impervious material. One suitable pad construction of this type is shown in Reeder Patent No. 2,785,407. Alternatively, the body members 14 and 15 may be formed of a rigid fiber member secured over suitable cloth padding in a manner well known in the art.

Each of the body members 14 and 15 of the shoulder pads 10 includes a downwardly extending forward portion -16 adapted to overlie and protect the wearers chest. The two inner edges of chest protecting portions 16 reside in abutment and these edges are secured together by means of a suitable lacer 17. In one form of lacer two coated web pieces 18' are riveted or otherwise secured to each of the chest protecting portions 16. A suitable lacing 19 is threaded through openings provided in the web members. This lacing is preferably held in place by means of a frictional slidable locking member 20 provided with apertures for receiving the ends of lacing 19.

The two body members 14 and 15 also include rearwardly positioned back covering portions 21. The abutting edges of the two back portions 21 are connected together in any suitable manner, for example, by means of a leather hinge 22. Leather hinge 22 includes two members 23 and 24 which are respectively riveted or otherwise secured 'to the two back portions 21. Each of the individual hinge members 23 and 24 is overfolded upon itself and is cut to form a plurality of outwardly extending loops 25. The loops of the two members interfit with one another and receive a lacing 26. These hinge members are effective to hold the rear portions 21 against horizontal separation, while at the same time permitting limited pivotal movement and restraining vertical movement of the members relative to one another. Preferably, body pieces 14 and '15 are provided with enlarged padded portions 27 surrounding the neck opening formed between the two pads.

e S u der pads 10 further comprise two shoulder caps 28 and 30. These shoulder caps are formed of a rigid padded material which is preferably the same material used to construct the body portions. Each of the shoulder caps is pivotally secured to the upper portions of the body members 14 and 15 by means of a pair of spaced straps 3 1. These straps overlie the top surface of the shoulder caps and are riveted thereto as at 32. These straps are then turned over the shoulder caps and are riveted to the upper surface of the body members.

Additionally, the present shoulder pad assembly cornprises a pair of cantilever protective caps 33 and 34. These latter caps are also hingedly secured to the body members by means of straps (not shown), which straps are riveted or otherwise secured to the under surface of the inner ends of the shoulder caps and to the outer surface of the body portions in a manner well known in the art.

So much of the shoulder pads as has been described thus far is conventional. The essence of the present invention resides in the disposition of the securing straps 11 and 12 and in cooperating slide member 13. Each of these straps comprises a length of webbing. The forward end of each strap is secured to a buckle 36. Buckles 36 are in turn secured to loops 37 formed of webbing riveted to the forward portions 16 of body members 14 and 15 of the shoulder pads. The straps then pass rearwardly and are crossed over one another as at 38. The rear ends of straps 11 and 12 are respectively joined by means of buckles 4t) and loops 41 to the lower rear portions of the opposite body member from the member to which the front strap portions are secured. Thus, the front portion of strap 11 is secured to the front portion of member 15 and is secured to the rear portion of member 14. Similarly, strap =12 is secured at its front end to portion 14 and at its rear end to member 15.

[A slidable member, or cross piece, 13 engages and supports the straps at the point where they cross over one another. Cross piece 13 in a preferred embodiment is circular in outline and is formed of webbing, leather or the like. The member comprises a first pair of arcuate diametrically opposed slots 42 and 43 adapted to receive strap 11 and a second pair of arcuate diametrically opposed slots 44 and 45 adapted to receive strap 12. The slots 42 and 43 are centered on a diameter disposed at right angles to the diameter on which slots 44 and 45 are centered. Each of these four slots is slightly wider than the width of the webs 11 and 12.

The manner in which the present shoulder pads are worn by a player is best illustrated in FIGURE 2. Specifically, before the shoulder pads are put on, lace 26 is tightened to bring the rear portions 21 of the body members together. Then after the pads are in place, front lace 19 is drawn tight and secured by slide 20 to hold the front portions 16 of the body members together. Body members '14 and 15 thus snugly engage the back, shoulder areas and upper chest areas of the player.

The shoulder pads are held in this position by body straps 11 and 12. These straps respectively engage front buckles 36--36 attached to the front portions of body members 14 and 15 by loops 37. Body straps 11 and 12 pass rearwardly around the players body in areas spaced an appreciable distance from his armpits. The body straps cross at a point well down on the players back. At the place where the straps cross, slide member 13 engages each of [the straps. The ends of these straps are secured to buckles 40 attached to the rear portions of body members 14 and 15 through loops 41. The lengths of straps 11 and 12 can readily be adjusted by manipulating either buckles 36 or 41 in a conventional manner.

As is best shown in FIGURE 2, straps 11 and '12 are trapped under the large shoulder muscles at the rear of a players shoulder. Each of these straps is effective to apply a diagonal pressure to the pad attached to the strap,

the diagonal pressure including a downward component.

Consequently, when a player raises his arms for any purpose, the shoulder pads are locked in contact with his shoulders by the engagement of straps 11 and 12 with the players shoulder muscles and body.

One of the functions of slide 13 with its opposed pairs of slots for receiving the straps 1'1 and 12 is to force the straps to take this downwardly directed path beneath the shoulder muscles. This slide also functions to keep the straps flat to prevent their rolling or curling. The straps are freely slidable through this member so that the position of the slide member 13 automatically adjusts itself to accommodate players of various physical dimensions.

From the above disclosure of the general principles of the present invention and the above description of one preferred embodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend various modifications to which the invention is susceptible. Consequently, I desire to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a football shoulder pad of the type comprising a protective member having a front portion adapted to overlie the chest of a player, and a back portion adapted to overlie the shoulder and upper back of a player, said front portion and said back portion each having a left side and a right side, the improvement which comprises means tfor securing said shoulder pad to the players body, said means comprising first and second body straps, the first of said body straps being secured to a portion of said pad adjacent to the left side of the front portion thereof, said second body strap being secured to the front portion of said protective member adjacent to the right side thereof, said body straps then passing rearwardly and being respectively secured to the back portion of said protective member adjacent to the right and left sides thereof, said straps crossing one another at the rear of the players body.

2. In a football shoulder pad of the type comprising a protective member having a front portion adapted to overlie the chest of a player, and a back portion adapted to overlie the shoulder and upper back of a player, said front portion and said back portion each having a left side and a right side, the improvement which comprises means for securing said shoulder pad to the players body, said means comprising first and second body straps, the first of said body straps being secured to a portion of said pad adjacent to the left side of the front portion thereof, said second body strap being secured to the front portion of said protective member adjacent to the right side thereof, said body straps then passing rearwardly and being respectively secured to the back portion of said protective member adjacent to the right and left sides thereof, said straps crossing one another at the rear of the players body, and a slide member having spaced strap engaging means in engagement with said straps at the point where they cross one another, said straps being freely slidable relative to the strap engaging means associated with said slide member.

3. In a football shoulder pad of the type comprising first and second body members each having a back portion configurated to conformably engage a players back, and a front portion configurated to overlie and engage the chest portion of a player, means for securing the body members together at the front portion thereof, means to secure the body members together at the rear portions thereof, and cap members secured to each of the body members, the improvement which comprises strap means for securing said body members against the body of a wearer, said strap means comprising first and second body straps, means securing said first body strap to the forward portion of said first body member, and means for securing the opposite end of said first body strap to the rearward portion of said second body member, means for securing one end of the second strap to the front portion of said second body member, and means for securing the opposite end of said second strap to the rear portion of said first body member, said straps crossing one another below the rear portion of said body members.

4. Football shoulder pads comprising first and second body members configurated to conformably engage the upper back portion, shoulder portion and chest portion of a player, means for securing the body members together at the front portion thereof, means to secure the body members together at the rear portions thereof, and cap members secured to each of the body members, strap means for securing said body members to the body of a wearer, said strap means comprising first and second body straps, means securing said first body strap to the lower right-hand portion of said first body member covering the chest portion of a player, and means for securing the opposite end of said first body strap to the lower left-hand portion of said second body member covering the back of the player, means for securing one end of the second strap to the lower left-hand portion of said second body member covering the chest portion of the player,and means for securing the opposite end of said second strap to the lower right-hand portion of said first body member covering the back portion of the player, said straps crossing one another at the players back.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 206,994 Adamson Aug. 13, 1878 525,710 Keogh Sept. 11, 1894 636,562 Rouse Nov. 7, 1899 1,687,126 Goldsmith Oct. 9, 1928 

1. IN A FOOTBALL SHOULDER PAD OF THE TYPE COMPRISING A PROTECTIVE MEMBER HAVING A FRONT PORTION ADAPTED TO OVERLIE THE CHEST OF A PLAYER, AND A BACK PORTION ADAPTED TO OVERLIE THE SHOULDER AND UPPER BACK OF A PLAYER, SAID FRONT PORTION AND SAID BACK PORTION EACH HAVING A LEFT SIDE AND A RIGHT SIDE, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SHOULDER PAD TO THE PLAYER''S BODY, SAID MEANS COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND BODY STRAPS, THE FIRST OF SAID BODY STRAPS BEING SECURED TO A PORTION OF SAID PAD ADJACENT TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FRONT PORTION THEREOF, SAID SECOND BODY STRAP BEING SECURED TO THE FRONT PORTION OF SAID PROTECTIVE MEMBER ADJACENT TO THE RIGHT SIDE THEREOF, SAID BODY STRAPS THEN PASSING REARWARDLY AND BEING RESPECTIVELY SECURED TO THE BACK PORTION OF SAID PROTECTIVE MEMBER ADJACENT TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES THEREOF, SAID STRAPS CROSSING ONE ANOTHER AT THE REAR OF THE PLAYER''S BODY. 